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Mastering the Nymph
Volume 19/Number 2/February 1988
How to Catch Trout Mastering the Nymph, by Gordon Frazer. Blanford Press, Poole, Dorset. 1987. 176 pp. Price £12.95. ISBN 0 7137 1741 6. This book is one of several recent titles devoted to nymph fishing for stillwater trout. It reflects a general upsurge in interest in imitative fly fishing, which is paralleled by the revival of traditional loch-style fishing, This trend is no doubt inspired by a general disenchantment with the more controversial aspects of lure fishing (which require rather less in the way of skill, thought or effort) and a desire for a more contemplative, challenging and often more successful style of fishing. The rewards are not necessaily evidenced by the size of the bag, but rather by the deeper sense of satisfaction to be gained by genuinely deceiving the more sophisticated 'established' fish which are invariably of superior quality, The author is sufficiently modest to admit his own early failures at reservoir fishing and explains clearly how his determined and inquisitive approach to imitating the trouts' natural diet eventually brought him more consistent success. While the majority of angling books contain much hearsay and previously published material, this book is largely based on original information gained from personal experience, particularly of the artificially stocked, fertile, Midland water-supply reservoirs, The introduction explains the rationale for nymph fishing and the importance of studying the trouts' diet by the examination of stomach contents. The advantage of being able to imitate accurately such food organisms and to deceive the trout by the careful presentation of artificial nymphs is the essence of the book. However, much emphasis is also placed on the philosophy that it is not always the fly pattern, but how it is fished that is of paramount importance. Similarly the significance of non-specific or approximate patterns which create a deadly illusion is fully realized and forms the basis of most of the author's own fly dressing innovation. There are the familiar chapters on tackle, tactics, techniques and water conditions, followed by separate chapters dealing with the main freshwater invertebrate taxa relevant to the would-be 'nymph' angler. Buzzers, Sedges, Olives, Mayflies, the Anglers' Curse, Damselflies, and Corixa are described together with other mainly 'non-insect' groups which include Shrimps, Hoglice, Water Snails, and Leeches. The various terrestrial flies of significance to stillwater imitative fishing are not within the scope of this title. There are several minor errors and inaccuracies in the scientific nomenclature and although perfectly adequate line drawings are given, the text does not help the reader to recognize or identify the diverse invertebrate taxa with certainty, Brief notes on their main diagnostic characters or even a very simply key would have been a useful addition to a guide of this nature. The chapter on boat fishing techniques is followed by a somewhat repetitive calendar for the nymph angler which highlights the main seasonal events, month by month, throughout the
angling season. The future of nymph fishing is next considered and whereas anglers of a more sensitive nature might not like the idea of fishing nymphs on lead lines, most would agree that there is a future for 'catch-andrelease' fishing. This chapter also contains short sections on other topics such as night fishing and all-winter trout fishing. The penultimate chapter relates some of the author's angling experiences in order to illustrate certain points of interest and the final chapter is a catalogue of fly dressings already referred to, which will obviously be a useful source of reference to the home tyer. The book is an informative introduction to those who are interested in making their angling a more fulfilling pastime and the language and style suggest that it will appeal to a large cross-section of anglers. The quality of the colour plates illustrating the author's own fly patterns is excellent, but some of the black and white reproductions are obviously included because of their relevance to the text rather than due to their photographic merit. Similarly it seems a pity that the photograph (p. 89) of a 'fin-perfect' rainbow, to which the author quite rightly attaches great merit, does not show the tail. Other minor criticisms are largely confined to the choice of rods, lines and knots, which are in any case covered in detail in other more general angling works. However, these are finer points, often on matters of personal preference and they do not detract from the overall impression of the book. For those not wishing to get involved in too much entomological detail, this is a sound practical guide to the art of fishing the imitative nymph. E.J. WISE
More About the North Sea The Status of the North Sea Environments, Reasons for Concern. Proceedings of the Second North Sea Seminar '86 in Rotterdam, edited by E. Hey and G. Peet. Werkgroep, Amsterdam, 1986 Vol. 1 54 pp, ISBN 9070643-02-2; 1987 Vol. 2, 351 pp. ISBN 9 0 - 7 0 6 4 3 03-0. No price. During the period before the recent ministerial conference on the North Sea, a number of Non-Governmental Organizations prepared and submitted documentary evidence on their views about the health of the North Sea and the remedial action they thought should be taken. This publication is one such. Volume 1 contains three background papers and was published before the Seminar took place, Volume 2 contains papers given at the Seminar with the discussions that followed them and concludes with five short statements by members of a forum representing divergent views, a general discussion, and a summing up by the Chairman of the Symposium, the distinguished international lawyer Professor Pat Birnie. The three background papers in Volume 1 included a workmanlike summary of the physical and chemical processes in the North Sea by Dr D. Eisma, an extremely brief comment on major ecological change that has been observed in the North Sea in recent years, 87
How to Catch Trout Mastering the Nymph, by Gordon Frazer. Blanford Press, Poole, Dorset. 1987. 176 pp. Price £12.95. ISBN 0 7137 1741 6. This book is one of several recent titles devoted to nymph fishing for stillwater trout. It reflects a general upsurge in interest in imitative fly fishing, which is paralleled by the revival of traditional loch-style fishing, This trend is no doubt inspired by a general disenchantment with the more controversial aspects of lure fishing (which require rather less in the way of skill, thought or effort) and a desire for a more contemplative, challenging and often more successful style of fishing. The rewards are not necessaily evidenced by the size of the bag, but rather by the deeper sense of satisfaction to be gained by genuinely deceiving the more sophisticated 'established' fish which are invariably of superior quality, The author is sufficiently modest to admit his own early failures at reservoir fishing and explains clearly how his determined and inquisitive approach to imitating the trouts' natural diet eventually brought him more consistent success. While the majority of angling books contain much hearsay and previously published material, this book is largely based on original information gained from personal experience, particularly of the artificially stocked, fertile, Midland water-supply reservoirs, The introduction explains the rationale for nymph fishing and the importance of studying the trouts' diet by the examination of stomach contents. The advantage of being able to imitate accurately such food organisms and to deceive the trout by the careful presentation of artificial nymphs is the essence of the book. However, much emphasis is also placed on the philosophy that it is not always the fly pattern, but how it is fished that is of paramount importance. Similarly the significance of non-specific or approximate patterns which create a deadly illusion is fully realized and forms the basis of most of the author's own fly dressing innovation. There are the familiar chapters on tackle, tactics, techniques and water conditions, followed by separate chapters dealing with the main freshwater invertebrate taxa relevant to the would-be 'nymph' angler. Buzzers, Sedges, Olives, Mayflies, the Anglers' Curse, Damselflies, and Corixa are described together with other mainly 'non-insect' groups which include Shrimps, Hoglice, Water Snails, and Leeches. The various terrestrial flies of significance to stillwater imitative fishing are not within the scope of this title. There are several minor errors and inaccuracies in the scientific nomenclature and although perfectly adequate line drawings are given, the text does not help the reader to recognize or identify the diverse invertebrate taxa with certainty, Brief notes on their main diagnostic characters or even a very simply key would have been a useful addition to a guide of this nature. The chapter on boat fishing techniques is followed by a somewhat repetitive calendar for the nymph angler which highlights the main seasonal events, month by month, throughout the
angling season. The future of nymph fishing is next considered and whereas anglers of a more sensitive nature might not like the idea of fishing nymphs on lead lines, most would agree that there is a future for 'catch-andrelease' fishing. This chapter also contains short sections on other topics such as night fishing and all-winter trout fishing. The penultimate chapter relates some of the author's angling experiences in order to illustrate certain points of interest and the final chapter is a catalogue of fly dressings already referred to, which will obviously be a useful source of reference to the home tyer. The book is an informative introduction to those who are interested in making their angling a more fulfilling pastime and the language and style suggest that it will appeal to a large cross-section of anglers. The quality of the colour plates illustrating the author's own fly patterns is excellent, but some of the black and white reproductions are obviously included because of their relevance to the text rather than due to their photographic merit. Similarly it seems a pity that the photograph (p. 89) of a 'fin-perfect' rainbow, to which the author quite rightly attaches great merit, does not show the tail. Other minor criticisms are largely confined to the choice of rods, lines and knots, which are in any case covered in detail in other more general angling works. However, these are finer points, often on matters of personal preference and they do not detract from the overall impression of the book. For those not wishing to get involved in too much entomological detail, this is a sound practical guide to the art of fishing the imitative nymph. E.J. WISE
More About the North Sea The Status of the North Sea Environments, Reasons for Concern. Proceedings of the Second North Sea Seminar '86 in Rotterdam, edited by E. Hey and G. Peet. Werkgroep, Amsterdam, 1986 Vol. 1 54 pp, ISBN 9070643-02-2; 1987 Vol. 2, 351 pp. ISBN 9 0 - 7 0 6 4 3 03-0. No price. During the period before the recent ministerial conference on the North Sea, a number of Non-Governmental Organizations prepared and submitted documentary evidence on their views about the health of the North Sea and the remedial action they thought should be taken. This publication is one such. Volume 1 contains three background papers and was published before the Seminar took place, Volume 2 contains papers given at the Seminar with the discussions that followed them and concludes with five short statements by members of a forum representing divergent views, a general discussion, and a summing up by the Chairman of the Symposium, the distinguished international lawyer Professor Pat Birnie. The three background papers in Volume 1 included a workmanlike summary of the physical and chemical processes in the North Sea by Dr D. Eisma, an extremely brief comment on major ecological change that has been observed in the North Sea in recent years, 87